Some Further Facts and Figures Behind Homelessness in London And How Access To Technology Can Help

Local agencies are reporting that 7,581 people slept rough in London throughout 2014/15 – which is a 16 % rise on the previous year, and more than double 2009/10 figure.

So about 7,500 people currently sleep on the streets of London. Their backgrounds, religions, ages, and races cover every category. Even more heartbreaking, many of them want to find work, but have no way to access the digital world of today.

Homelessness could happen to anyone. Most of the time, homeless individuals did not choose homelessness – rather, a catastrophic event in their lives catapulted them toward living on the streets. These individuals are 13 times more likely to be victims of violent crime, and 47 times more likely to be victims of theft. There needs to be a ladder for these disenfranchised members of society to climb.

Computers are a vital resource to survival today. Without access to one, you are as good as forgotten. An estimated two million working laptops and computers are replaced in the UK every single year. These no longer needed but still useful devices need to be donated to unemployed, homeless people eager to rejoin society.

That’s where SocialBox.Biz comes into the picture. A social enterprise that recently launched a “Laptops for Homeless Support Initiative,” SocialBox.Biz is closing the gap between wasted resources and people in need. Their business model is focused on social impact over profit gains, and they are working hard to re-home disused laptops and providing training to disadvantage people.

About 112,330 households in England, 14,160 households in Wales, and 35,000 households in Scotland applied for homelessness assistance from 2014-2015. That is a massive amount of people unable to provide for their families let alone purchase a laptop. Obtaining computers is vital to the survival of their relevance in today’s workforce.

Barely any companies today accept paper resumes. Everything is electronic. Updates, information, tools, and resources to making a profit are all available on the Internet. SocialBox.Biz realised this and are working hard to improve the lives of thousands. More businesses should follow their example and set aside profit gains for helping the starving individuals sleeping on the cold streets.

Some testimonials and comments received:

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hi,

I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of our peer mentor Mark who was very pleased to receive his laptop. I saw him this morning, while he was volunteering, and he is still visibly excited, describing the many ways he is using it. So a massive thank you from him and us. It has made a massive difference to him.

The program that he talked about using is called Breaking Free Online, which is a computer assisted therapy (which uses CBT and Mindfulness techniques for individuals to work on their recovery in their own time, as well as improving their IT skills. Mark is helping others to use it here on Wednesday and Friday mornings as part of our learning program, as well as aiding with his own recovery, which is another reason the laptop is useful for him.

All the best

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PeterGibbs client of Thames Reach Homelessness charity said:

“For people struggling with homelessness and addiction it’s a big
struggle to access technology because of lack of funds. I’ve struggled
over the years to interact and integrate through technology. When
projects like this are available for people like me, it’s a big thing.
Hopefully it will happen a lot more. I can only contact my family
on-line through email right now so this will help me rebuild those
bridges. I really appreciate that.”

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I hope you’re well. The laptops you donated have been loved by the clients who were given them and very much used as part of their positive moves from our hostel; one client is now in his own flat, one in rehab and one in an abstinence-based service.

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the laptop supplied us was used by our resident ZZ to be able to do an on-line course on Mental Health and nutrition, at her own pace and in the privacy of her own flat. This was very important to her as she likes to have everything just so to make it possible for her to study. She is enjoying her course very much and is looking forward to furthering her interest in the subject after she has finished her course and she has said this is something she is passionate about and which she can see herself working at in a few years.

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6 responses to “Laptops for Homeless support – latest updates”

Great idea,
I hope this helps people to find a job and integrate back into a normal everyday life. No one should be homeless in this country these days.
These people have actually paid into the system for years and through some misfortune have found themselves in this position.

Homelessness is often linked with gradual process of de-socialisation and stigmatisation.
It is often irreversible and permanently destructive. Anything which might help to reverse homelessness is worthy trying…